Jan., 1921 SPECIMENS IN CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES 29 
each side of the neck, making a kind of semicircle that is somewhat broken by the 
intrusion of light buffy feathers. Breast a tawny brown, as deep as that of a female 
- platyrhynchos in July plumage but with the dusky centers of the feathers much more 
restricted, paler, and showing much less contrast with the brown edgings. 
The abdomen and sides correspond more nearly to those of the Mottled Duck 
(Anas fulvigula maculosa), there being considerable lighter tipping to the already light 
brown feathers, which all have, however, the blackish brown spot near the tip. This 
lighter brown, almost white, tipping is not at all regular although all the feathers seem 
to be of the same molt—that is, they are new feathers—giving the abdomen a slightly 
mottled appearance other than that caused by the blackish-brown spotting. The back 
is much like that of the Black Duck (Anas rubripes), with a distinctly purplish tinge 
to the larger feathers of the posterior portion and also to the scapulars. The speculum 
is Dluish green, with a white border formed by the narrow white tips of four or five 
of the greater wing coverts, except for the bluish cast corresponding to that of fulvigula. 
The upper tail coverts are brownish black, with tawny tips, while the under coverts are 
dusky, with narrow, whitish-buff tipping. The four middle tail fathers are blackish 
brown and the remainder lighter colored, with pale buff edgings. The lining of the 
wings is mostly white. 
Both bill and feet are so darkened by age and drying that the finer distinctions of 
color are not sufficiently discernible to be of much value in the determination of this 
specimen. Its general appearance and markings show it to be closely related to the 
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos), while its peculiarities connect it with either the Florida 
Duck (Anas fulvigula fulvigula), or the Mottled Duck (Anas fulvigula maculosa). The 
green speculum with whitish border looks very much like that of fulvigula, but in the 
spotting and mottling on the abdomen there seems to be shown resemblance to maculosa, 
although it is possible that this latter characteristic in this specimen may be merely 
individual and not inherent. It might not show this spotting and mottling in a different 
state of plumage, or later in the season. 
The measurements of this specimen are as follows: Total length (taken in the 
flesh), 26.0 inches (660.4 millimeters); extent 38.5 in. (976.9 mm.); wing 11 in. (279.4 
mm.); tail 4.7 in. (118.6 mm.); exposed culmen 2.15 in. (54.6 mm.); depth of bill et 
base .88 in. (22.5 mm.); greatest width of upper mandible .92 in. (23.3 mm.); tarsus 2.26 
in. (57.6 mm.); middle toe, without claw, 2.26 in. (57.5 mm.). 
Mareca penelope (Linnaeus). European Widgeon. The Academy collection con- 
tains a male of this species taken near Los Bafios, Merced County, on December 5, 1908, 
by R. H. Beck. The Huropean Widgeon has been taken occasionally in this state in 
years gone by, according to reports, but is becoming more and more rare as time goes 
on. There are very few California specimens in collections, but there are probably some 
mounted birds in private hands throughout the country. This bird is commonly mistaken 
for a cross between the Baldpate and some other species, the Cinnamon Teal being 
usually the accredited party of the second part. 
This specimen in the California Academy of Sciences is in nearly full winter 
plumage, but still retains a few feathers that are remnants of either the post-nuptial or 
juvenal plumage. It differs from the description given in Ridgway’s Manual of North 
American Birds, p. 95, as follows: There is a complete circle around the head, including 
forehead, lores and chin, contiguous to the base of the bill and extending posteriorly 
for about 15 mm., that is of a pale rusty coloration, spotted with dusky, and distinctly 
noticeable. Such a marking as this is not mentioned by any authority I have as yet 
seen, and may be only an individual variation. The measurements of this specimen 
are: Wing, 263 mm.; tail, 95 mm.; exposed culmen, 32.4 mm.; depth of bill, 18.0 mm.: 
width of bill, 15.5 mm.; distance from nostril to tip of bill, 24.4 mm.: distance from nos- 
tril to lores, 8.9 mm.; tarsus, 36.4 mm.; middle toe, without claw, 38.2 mm. 
Marila marila (Linnaeus). Scaup Duck. This species is an irregular yet not un- 
common winter visitant to California, but it occurs almost altogether along the coast. 
The Academy collection contains, however, one specimen recorded from the interior, a 
male taken near Los Bafios, Merced County on January 25, 1909, and two others which 
are rather late seasonal records, having been taken in Alameda County on May 20, 1908. 
